Have a look at CBI's hybrid offroad for the 3rd gen. It is pretty reasonable you can get one built for about $1,000. I plan on ordering mine soon.

http://www.cbioffroadfab.com/store/p...roducts_id=119

 

Guess you were close enough you could pay him a visit if he tried to rip you off

:wabbit2:

 

Front, as it is now:


As it was originally:


A little nose job:


Profile:


Re-worked spare tire angle. Originally it was straight up and down and stuck out a few more inches. (antenna mount is home-brew)


My arse:


These bumpers have served me well for approx. 2yrs. I almost regret responding to the post. I typically hate internet forums. However, I have learned a lot from this site and have stolen, errr.... been inspired by several member builds, so I thought I would contribute. Didn't mean to drum up negativity.

 

I don't think you drummed up negativity with your positive post. It's not your fault you got lucky on a company who's earned its reputation, judging by the sheer number of threads not in their favor vs the posts that are.
Welcome to the board, get that build thread going.
And what in the heck did you do to that rear spoiler?
Actually, I see all sorts of little things going on there....like under the headlights. Interesting...a new turn signal?

 

My kma rear bumper has been a headache from the beginning. I would not recommend them at all.

 

Hey Urban like hab said don't feel upset because you had a good experience where others were less fortunate... they are'nt ragging on you... lol... fwiw I think the hoop looks better angled forward even though I'm not a fan of that style... I prefer the full protection corner hoop style which does'nt work angled... like Hab I'm also curious about the LED turn signals you have there...

 

as mentioned previously, don't feel bad at all..I am happy you are Happy with what you got. It is just unfortunate that they service and work practices have not been very consistent...

Your 4Runner looks awesome...if I did not need a v-8 powered truck to tow my camp trailer and Trekker around after seeing your truck, Dirtco's and AxleIke's 3rd gen 4runner I would sell my tahoe and start building a 3rd Gen. They are seriously growing on me...

 

You know they have a topical fungicidal ointment for that now...

 

I am 6'3", 230lbs, so maybe I got a better deal than most.

[quote=habanero;51880812]I don't think you drummed up negativity with your positive post. It's not your fault you got lucky on a company who's earned its reputation, judging by the sheer number of threads not in their favor vs the posts that are.
Welcome to the board, get that build thread going.
And what in the heck did you do to that rear spoiler?
Actually, I see all sorts of little things going on there....like under the headlights. Interesting...a new turn signal?[/quote]

They are LED DRL's from Hella. I fab'd them into the little trim panel below the headlight. They are wired from what used to be the parking light (amber side marker light). Now the clear corner houses my led turn signal bulb. A little 'massaging' was necessary to reroute, rewire everything. This is one of my favorite mods. I will post pics and more detail in the soon-to-be build-thread. It will be a lengthy one. I bought this truck brand new in 1999, and have 280,000 miles on it. So a lot of little projects have taken place.

 

So buy one and put a 1uz in it. Jk. Would a supercharger be enough power?

 

Actually it would not be enough. Wheelbase also is an issue on tow rigs. Idleally I would like to swap the Tahoe for a crew cab.

 

good to know, thanks!

 

Yes picking up things in person gives you the option of holding someone over the edge of at least a 3 story building .

Makes talking about those little quality control issues much easier knowing you have there full attention!!!:jessica:

 

Urban Assault, you might want to get your rear bumper worked on, the KMA/TAG did a TERRIBLE job welding the swing out together... he welded rolled metal to a cast metal without pre-heat... thats why you have that re-bar wrapped around the hinge/pivot point (whatever you want to call it, i'm having a brain dump). I broke mine, not impressed with the dudes work. I mean the overall design is good, but terrible execution. I ended up having Perkins rebuild the whole thing

 

Will check it out. I haven't had any problems to date, though with all the bad reviews I find myself checking my rear view mirror to see if my spare is still on there.

Thanks!

 

Here's my experience with TAG/KMA: I bought a rear bumper - looked good on the web, and was only about a thousand dollars for a spare tire carrier, gas can holder, hi-lift jack mount, etc. (with shipping). I figured I would save a few hundred $ vs. buying from the competition. Well, you get what you pay for.

Back on the 1st of June I asked what the wait was, and he (Kyle) said 8 or 9 weeks. So, the next week, on the 9th, I ordered one. When I would check on it he had various “stories” he would tell me. On July 24th he said 3 or 4 weeks. Just about ready to ship, they said... A month later: “pretty darn soon, only 8 in front of you”. 9/12: only three in front... 9/25, it’s done, it’s curing, two days to cure, then 5 days shipping. That would get it here just a couple of days before our expedition trip to Hole in the Rock, Utah. No biggie, I’ll take a day off rather than drag my stock receiver hitch all over southeastern Utah.

9/28 I get a call – they can get it on the road that day if I give them my Visa # to pay for shipping, they’ll give me the tracking #, everything is cool. Okay, still would be in a couple of days before the trip. No tracking number comes. I call on Monday – “oh, it’s not going to ship for another week, that’s what I told you (No, you told me it would ship Friday, which was actually 3 days after it was done and curing. I tell him it won’t make it in time for the trip. He says: “It always works that way. Without fail. <sigh>” like that’s the way his life is. Pretty lame, if you ask me.

It came in on October 10th, right about double the time he said.

We go to put it on, and it’s missing some brackets. More wait. Yesterday I tackle it again.

Bearing parts for the swing out don’t fit. He says the "manufacturer" messed up, he says he could ship it but he doesn't know what it needs to be. Go to find the right stuff, takes 5 stops. Finally get it on today.

All good? Hardly. The paint is messed up because despite it apparently had over a week to cure, the plastic left wrinkle marks all over it. No primer either, all the scratches are down to bare metal, will be a rust problem.

The Hi-lift bracket doesn’t fit – the tire is in the way (WTF?)

The tire carrier won’t close because the gas can bracket is in the way (more WTF?). Cut it off.

The spare tire mount is crooked, looks like caca (yet more WTF?)

Pretty shoddy, overall. I give it not even one star.

 

Wow. Reading your post reminds me of my bumper from KMA.

It's almost identical issues. Except I bought my bumper back in '04.....

 

Sorry you had that experience bro. Yet another 1st hand negative experience about this sorry company...

They couldn't give me one of their POS bumpers.

Urban, you apparently lucked out...

 

steveh, did he call you a liar when you talked with him on the phone? Then it really would be the same lawlz.

 

No he didn't call me a liar - but I didn't give him a chance to. I didn't want to jeopardize the delivery of my bumper since he already had my money and was a couple thousand miles away.

It appears they are starting another company though - Blue Lake Offroad, also in the Atlanta area. They are using some of the same pictures on their website...